A request for information (“RFI”) solicitation may be issued by an agency for the purposes of information gathering and planning while contemplating a possible competitive sealed bid procurement or competitive sealed proposal procurement. A RFI is not, and should not be construed as, a commitment by the agency to issue a solicitation in the future. Agencies should not seek, and vendors should not provide, proposals or bids. A response to a RFI should be treated by the agency as informational only, and should not be considered a proposal or bid, nor should any contract be awarded directly from a RFI.